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03 SR308/CA/2
Senate Resolution
308
By: Senators Unterman of the 45th, Johnson of the 1st, Stephens of the 51st, Lamutt of the 21st and Clay of the 37th
ADOPTED SENATE
By: Senators Unterman of the 45th, Johnson of the 1st, Stephens of the 51st, Lamutt of the 21st and Clay of the 37th
ADOPTED SENATE
A RESOLUTION
To create the Joint Study Committee on Location of Electric
Transmission Lines; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, under Georgia law, utility companies are authorized to exercise powers of eminent domain for the purpose of constructing power lines for the transmission of electricity; and
WHEREAS, proposals have been advanced to provide additional oversight of utility companies prior to their exercising eminent domain powers for the purpose of constructing power lines for the transmission of electricity; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a committee to study this matter and make recommendations to the General Assembly is in the best interest of the State of Georgia and its citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Joint Study Committee on Location of Electric Transmission Lines to be composed of 15 members, five members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, five members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments, and five members to be appointed by the Governor. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House and the Senate Committee on Assignments shall designate a member of the Senate who shall serve as cochairpersons of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the cochairpersons. In addition, the organization known as Homeowners Opposed to Powerline Encroachment (H.O.P.E.) shall receive notice of all meetings of the committee and shall be entitled to designate a nonvoting member to participate in such meetings.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Citizen members shall receive a daily expense allowance in the amount specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state employees. Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members, and state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee, but they shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees. The funds necessary for the reimbursement of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative members, and state employees shall come from funds appropriated to or otherwise available to their respective departments. All other funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of Representatives. The expenses and allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than 5 days unless additional days are authorized. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2003. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2003.
WHEREAS, under Georgia law, utility companies are authorized to exercise powers of eminent domain for the purpose of constructing power lines for the transmission of electricity; and
WHEREAS, proposals have been advanced to provide additional oversight of utility companies prior to their exercising eminent domain powers for the purpose of constructing power lines for the transmission of electricity; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a committee to study this matter and make recommendations to the General Assembly is in the best interest of the State of Georgia and its citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Joint Study Committee on Location of Electric Transmission Lines to be composed of 15 members, five members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, five members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments, and five members to be appointed by the Governor. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House and the Senate Committee on Assignments shall designate a member of the Senate who shall serve as cochairpersons of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the cochairpersons. In addition, the organization known as Homeowners Opposed to Powerline Encroachment (H.O.P.E.) shall receive notice of all meetings of the committee and shall be entitled to designate a nonvoting member to participate in such meetings.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Citizen members shall receive a daily expense allowance in the amount specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state employees. Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members, and state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee, but they shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees. The funds necessary for the reimbursement of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative members, and state employees shall come from funds appropriated to or otherwise available to their respective departments. All other funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of Representatives. The expenses and allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than 5 days unless additional days are authorized. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2003. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2003.